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THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
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Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to share information, and do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support, opinions or efforts towards these issues.
Follow First 5 Kern on social media (@First5Kern) for more kids news, as well as information about our funded programs and initiatives.
Now for the headlines...
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Bakersfield couple reflects on fostering dozens of children with special needs |
The inability to have kids hasn’t stopped the Swatzells from building a family.
"We’ve been doing foster care for four years now and we wouldn’t change a single thing about it. We love it," said Jessica.
In July 2017, they brought home their first child. Sawyer lacks an immune system and has autism. Jessica said fostering and eventually adopting him inspired them to help more kids with special needs. The couple is currently fostering their 38th child and they’ve dealt with all sorts of conditions like epilepsy and down syndrome. (TurnTo23)
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The 10 conversation skills all kids should have by first grade
Children aren’t that great at the art of conversation. Sometimes they talk so much you wonder if they’ll ever stop. Other times you ask about how their day went and you get a single syllable word.
But how do you know if they have age-appropriate conversation skills needed to interact with people outside your home? (Fatherly)
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Now is the time to permanently extend the CTC and EITC
American Rescue Plan makes important temporary changes to the child tax credit (CTC) and earned income tax credit (EITC) that begin to solve this problem.
But in order for those changes to have a long-term impact and better support families with children and low-wage workers, they must be made permanent. (CAP)
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Will you get $8,000 or $16,000 back for child care expenses? |
If you have day care, babysitter or transportation costs associated with caring for your child, the American Rescue Plan passed in March lets you write off a higher amount associated with these expenses.
If you're eligible, you could receive up to 50% back in a refund for these child care-related expenses. The amount you'll be able to claim maxes out at $8,000 for one dependent and $16,000 for two or more. The catch? (c|net)
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Parents abused as children may pass on emotional issues |
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New research from the University of Georgia suggests that a history of childhood mistreatment could have negative ramifications for the children of people who experienced abuse or neglect in childhood.
Teaching your children how to manage their emotions is an integral part of parenting. But people who were frequently mistreated as children may find it hard to identify their emotions and implement strategies to regulate them and, in turn, can harm their kids’ emotional development. (UGA)
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Scientist says plummeting sperm counts caused by everyday products
Fertility issues are pretty common, and new research shows we could actually be on the brink of a fertility crisis.
Dr. Shanna Swan, an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist, found sperm counts have plummeted over the last four decades.
She believes chemicals from plastics are getting into our bodies, impacting our hormones and ultimately interfering with our reproductive functions. (WTSP)
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CA Assembly passes bill to dramatically limit lead leaching in faucets
This week, a bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from water faucets and fixtures passed the California Assembly. If it becomes law, it will create the nation’s most legally stringent lead leaching limit for faucets.
AB 100 passed the state’s lower house by a vote of 45 – 0. The bill would limit lead leaching to no more than 1 microgram, making California the first state to enact a performance standard to ensure faucets and fixtures are practically lead-free. (EWG)
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Long-term study shows strong links between gestational diabetes during pregnancy and type-1/type-2 diabetes later in life |
A 23 year study has found that women who experience gestational diabetes (GDM) when they are pregnant are more prone to developing type-1 and type-2 diabetes later in life.
The long-term study suggests that autoantibody testing should be considered for women who experience GDM in order to have a better understanding of their prognosis.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes women may experience during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. However, 50% of women who experience GDM go on to develop type-2 diabetes later in life. (EurekAlert)
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Panel says pregnant people should be offered healthy weight programs
The task force said a range of behavioral counseling interventions can help prevent excess weight gain in pregnancy. (Insider)
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Some states extending Medicaid post-partum
Last month, Illinois became the first state to get approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to extend Medicaid for up to a full year after a pregnancy.
In the U.S., mothers enrolled in Medicaid during pregnancy lose that coverage 60 days after giving birth if they surpass income limits set by their state. As a result, hundreds of thousands of women who've recently had a baby end up uninsured each year. (NPR)
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CHILD DEVELOPMENT & EARLY EDUCATION
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US child care is a mess
but it’s not what’s holding back the recovery
Since the start of the pandemic, economists, business leaders, and policymakers have argued that the lack of sufficient childcare is holding back the US economic recovery.
But a new study has found childcare challenges played a small role in the overall decline in employment, suggesting its role in the recovery may be muted as well. (Quartz)
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How much child care went up in your state
Thousands of child care providers closed their doors during the pandemic and 1 in 4 facilities remain closed. The collapse of the child care industry affected the labor market, with more than 10 percent of parents forced to leave their jobs to take care of their children.
Although some facilities have reopened in the new year, many are operating on thin margins and decreased, unstable enrollment. This map shows the increase in cost of child care by state. (Politico)
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First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.
For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org and follow us on social media.
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Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics
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